ECR to give Cephalon rights to Amrix

FRAZER, Pa. ECR Pharmaceuticals has agreed to give the rights to their drug AMRIX to Cephalon. AMRIX is used for relief of muscle spasms associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in February 2007 in 15 and 30 mgs. The drug is a one-a-day, extended release version of Flexeril. The medication will be a more convenient dosage of Flexeril and its generic Cyclobenzaprine HCl, which is taken three times daily.

The product will be made available in the United States later this year. The drug was acquired under a $100 million cash agreement, which could increase depending on sales milestones.

According to the IMS, cyclobenzaprine HCl represents 37 percent of the 45 million prescriptions written for muscle relaxants in 2006.